The Royal College of Nursing has called on the new government to deliver emergency intervention within their first 100 days, as nursing education staff warn of course closures.

There are currently 41,000 vacant registered nurse posts in the UK.

In a survey of over 600 nurse lecturers and other higher education nursing staff, more than 60 per cent reported redundancies, restructures and recruitment freezes. As well as this, more than a quarter of nursing educators are considering leaving the profession. Three quarters of those asked in the RCN survey said cuts would impact the outcomes of nursing students.

The RCN has called on the next government to deliver an emergency financial intervention to stabilise higher education institutions within 100 days of taking office.

The survey revealed that 54 out of 72 universities that offer nursing degree courses in England are being forced to reduce staffing costs, with frozen and tuition fees and a decline in international student numbers having an impact.

Acting RCN general secretary and chief executive Professor Nicola Ranger said: “Nursing is a degree-educated, highly skilled and safety-critical profession, but the very people who teach and train the nurses of the future are being made redundant. The financial crisis in universities is threatening to engulf nursing – we need action now to stop a total collapse of courses.

“What is happening in universities will impact the NHS, the care sector, and their ability to provide safely staffed services. The higher education sector educates and trains the vast majority of nurses and without an urgent intervention, ministers and health leaders will face a deepening nurse recruitment crisis.

“This summer, the government must deliver financial support to stabilise universities. This cannot wait. And we must see ministers protect nursing courses by properly incentivising people to study the profession. That’s how to secure the workforce of the future and protect patient safety."